The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-04-15
LONDON, April 2nd 1887

Ii was training cats aud dogs" one
night this week when whistled on nv
door step for hanson cab, and, Jump
ing in, started for the House of Com
mons, where l was to dine at O'Clock.
Now, everybody almost who comes to
London goes on visit to the House
of Commons. Yards and Yards of
matter descriptive of it have been
written, and photographs of it are as
common as those of Mrs. Laugtry, so
do not propose to dilate on the build
iDgs. But dinner in the House to an
American is not 80 common, and l am
going to tell you what it was like.
Well, as | have said, it raired in the
feline-cum-canine style, and after a
furious drive OF a half-hour, during
which the cab leaked in various places,
and the bottom OF it became a small,
shallow, and confoundedly unpleasant
pond, / arrived at the doors. / found
the usual crowd around the entrance,
but man-servant took my card in,
and my host promptly appeared, armed
with the necessary order, and I passed
into the inner and charmed reoesses.
We went Immediately into the dining
room, where visitors are allowed. 1t
is the centre one of three, which open
one into the other. 1t was, l should
say at rough guess, about 20 by 60
feet, with very high ceiling. The
room was light and warm, and the air
was full of savory smell of tooth
some viands.
In few moments we were installed
in seats at a small, square table at the
end OF the room, and consulting the
bill of fare. You see there is no order
ing set dinners of swell character in
the restaurant at the House. There is
the carte du jour, and you can order
what you like from it. IL Is not long
or faucifnl {; just some gool, plain, sub
stantial dishes, for it is not intended as
place of entertainment, but as a con-
venience for members who are Too busy
TO go elsewhere to dine, or in case of
inclement weather. The prices were
also moderate, the cost of slice of
roast meat, with two vegetables, being
about 30o. In tact, the bill of fare was
very like that at simpsons" 10 the
Strand, and scores of other places in
London where they serve a 500. dinner
from the joint. We ordered soup,
some fish, some pdtss dhomard, roast
beef, nice fruit tart, and cheese and
salad---the most elaborate dinner af.
forded by the bill of fare, and bottle
of extremely good dry champagne to
wash it down with. Then | had time
to look around ne. The tables were
nearly all filed with members, and they
were nearly all in morning dress. The
noise of the talking and laughing filled
the room, aud they shouted at each
other from table to table with the
abandon of school boys. This / dwell
upon, because as a rule in England you
notice always the extreme quiet which
prevails in restaurants and club dining
rooms. They always modulate their
voices carefully, and the conversation
is carried on in low key. Eating is
Q serious business with an Epglishmen,
and ! have seen two young men, in
evening dress, come into the dining
room of my club, which is a very large
one, and sit down to table TO dine
after the following fashion A few
words of suggestion, hardly worth the
name Of discussion, over what they
would eat or drink, and then eat their